Dirt Talk by BuildWitt — Episode DT 379

Australian Adventure Week Two and Dirt World 2026 (BuildWitt Update #21)
Host: Aaron Witt
Release Date: October 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this weekly BuildWitt update, Aaron Witt recaps his Australian trip’s second week and delivers significant BuildWitt business updates. The episode blends travel anecdotes, deep mining industry insights, candid commentary on heavy equipment logistics, forest restoration, BuildWitt’s internal news, and the evolving vision for the Dirt World Summit. It’s a behind-the-scenes look aimed at professionals who want to grow the industry while experiencing Aaron’s signature reflective and enthusiastic tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Adventure & The Downside of the Great Barrier Reef (00:40–06:35)

• Recounting a childhood dream turned queasy:
  • Aaron fulfills his wish to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, but ends up seasick both on the boat and in the water due to rough conditions.
  • "Not only was I seasick on the boat, but I was seasick within the sea. I did see one turtle. I did see some fish. Couldn't really focus on them." (A, 05:19)
• Memorable, if unwelcome, new “core memory”:
  • "Spent the next few hours just basically, basically vomiting over the side of the boat which was really good, really good." (A, 06:00)

2. Mining Industry Immersion: Mackay & The Bowen Basin (06:36–14:57)

• Travel to Mackay:

  • Describes the nine-hour drive south to Mackay, the “home base” of the Bowen Basin, a world-leading metallurgical coal region.
  • Emphasizes the town’s unique mining-centric identity: surrounded by massive equipment dealerships and workshops.
  • "On the outskirts of the town is everything mining. So, so you have Caterpillar, Liebherr, Komatsu, Hitachi, you know, every big brand, the tire manufacturers, truck bodies going together, contractors like Teese." (A, 07:47)

• Epic Equipment Move — Komatsu WA 1200 Loader (09:22–13:55):

  • Participates in the move of the world’s largest mechanical drive loader (Komatsu WA 1200) from Komatsu’s workshop to BMA’s Caval Ridge mine (over 100 miles/180 km).
  • Thorough explanation of logistics: shipped from Japan, assembled in Mackay, disassembled for hauling, and reassembled at the mine.
  • "They take the wheels off, they don't put the front lifting arm or bucket on. They take the cab off for height and then Centurion shows up and they slide a spectacular trailer underneath. ... At about 3 or 4am they take off with the police escort out of town. ... Once we got to the mine, it's the same process put in reverse..." (A, 10:47–12:51)
  • Industry standout:
    • "The scale and scope of this region is unbelievable. They're all mining one seam. It's metallurgical coal. So it's for steel making." (A, 09:08)
    • Credits Centurion, Komatsu, BMA, and Hastings Deering for “brilliant access” — best yet in his Australian visits.

3. Upcoming Events — Ariat Dirt World Summit (14:58–16:11)

• Announces third annual summit in Dallas, TX (Nov 5–7, 2025) for about 1,500 leaders from 500 companies.
• Highlights a speaker lineup including Jesse Cole (Savannah Bananas), James Clear (“Atomic Habits”), Kim Scott (“Radical Candor”), Mark Miller (Chick-fil-A), Tim Grover (Michael Jordan’s trainer).
• "If you're looking for another industry event that is a snooze fest, this is definitely not for you. But if you're a leader looking to elevate yourself, your team, looking for like minded individuals that are hungry, then look no further..." (A, 14:58)
• [Promo code and summit site mention omitted per instruction.]

4. Site Visits: Pembroke Olive Downs Complex & Forest Track (16:12–23:20)

• Pembroke Olive Downs Complex:
  • Third visit; now progressing from greenfield to reclamation and advanced coal operations.
  • Praises CEO Barry for hands-on leadership.
  • "The first time we went there, there was no mining happening... The second time they had just delivered the first coal... And then this time they had already started on the reclamation efforts." (A, 17:05)
• Forest Track – Snowy Mountains Restoration:
  • Flies into burnt pine plantations, observes large-scale reforestation after devastating 2019–2020 fires.
  • Details heavy Dozer-based clearing (giant chains pulled by D8s), debris raking, controlled burning, then massive hand-replanting.
  • "Sometimes 30, 40,000 trees a day. You let it all sit for 20, 25 years and there you go, you have a forest, fully mature pine..." (A, 22:48)
  • Reflects on renewable forestry and Australia’s landscape, expresses gratitude for opportunities.

5. BuildWitt Internal Update: Hiring, Software, Platform Migration (23:21–27:34)

• Developer hiring:
  • Building out the dev team in Salt Lake City and Phoenix for closer product collaboration.
  • "We're focused on Salt Lake City or Phoenix because...we want to be meeting more in person from a product standpoint." (A, 24:38)
• Product migration:
  • Migration of all customers from old BuildWitt training platform to the new BuildWitt Improve is nearly completed.
  • "Everybody, new customers and existing customers are on the new platform and soon we will sunset the old product..." (A, 25:27)
• Commitment to continual improvement:
  • Emphasizes platform’s focus on not just technical skills, but leadership, health, safety, and financial wellness.
  • "It's really good stuff. I watch a video every day, so does our team and I've learned a lot and hopefully we can help the industry learn a lot as well." (A, 26:10)

6. Dirt World Summit 2026 Planning & Vision (27:35–31:13)

• 2026 Summit sales strategy:
  • Goal is to sell out the 2026 event during the 2025 summit, shifting energy from year-round ticket sales to event and software improvement.
  • "The best way to sell next year's summit is delivering way more value than people are paying for this year and I'm confident we'll be doing that." (A, 28:12)
  • Intends to reduce event size for exclusivity ("whoever gets their tickets, great. If you don't, it is what it is...") and to limit distractions from the core software vision.
  • "It's a completely different [event] than anything else in the industry and it's only getting way better from here. So if we can divert our energy from selling it to building the software company and then to elevating the experience...now we're making something really extraordinary." (A, 30:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Great Barrier Reef:
  • "Not only was I seasick on the boat, but I was seasick within the sea. ...after that, decided I can't do this anymore." (A, 05:20)
• On Mackay as Mining Epicenter:
  • "Just the scale and scope of this region is unbelievable." (A, 09:01)
• On the Loader Move:
  • "They slide the trailer out and then Komatsu crews alongside BMA build the machine over about a week. ...And as I'm recording this, the machine is working, which is pretty, pretty neat." (A, 12:54)
• On Forest Track’s Reforestation:
  • "Sometimes 30, 40,000 trees a day. ...You let it all sit for 20, 25 years and there you go, you have a forest, fully mature pine ready for harvesting." (A, 22:48)
• On Summit Vision:
  • "If we can take that horsepower and put it towards making the dirt world summit...better and better...now we're making something really extraordinary." (A, 30:11)
• Aaron's Signoff:
  • "Everybody stay dirty." (A, 31:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Australian adventure & seasickness story: 00:40–06:35
• Mackay, Bowen Basin, and mining logistics: 06:36–14:57
• Ariat Dirt World Summit preview: 14:58–16:11
• Pembroke Olive Downs visit & Forest Track restoration: 16:12–23:20
• BuildWitt hiring & platform migration updates: 23:21–27:34
• Vision & structure for Dirt World Summit 2026: 27:35–31:13

Episode Tone

Aaron Witt brings an unabashedly enthusiastic, honest, and sometimes self-deprecating voice, making complex mining operations and strategic business planning accessible and lively. He openly marvels at the “scale and scope” of the projects and doesn’t shy from discussing the tough (and sometimes gross) aspects of travel and building an ambitious business.

This episode is a blend of fieldwork tales, industry insight, and BuildWitt’s evolving roadmap for their platform and event. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in mining, heavy civil construction, technology for dirt work, and real talk about leading the “Dirt World.”